Lily Allen was moved to tears after her comeback album No Shame earned her a prestigious Hyundai Mercury Music Prize nomination.
The confessional record has been hailed as a return to form after Lily herself admitted being unhappy with 2014’s Sheezus.
Its appearance on the Mercury shortlist on Thursday has come as a nice surprice after a tumultuous few years in which Lily faced the breakdown of her marriage to Sam Cooper.
Speaking to Britain’s DIY magazine at the nominations announcement in London, an emotional Lily said: “I’m just very overwhelmed! I’m just a little bit weepy all of a sudden – it’s sort of hit me now, I don’t know what’s going on!”
Lyrics on No Shame’s tracks address the 33-year-old’s marital problems, parental worries, and her battle with an identity crisis while making and promoting its disastrous predecessor.
The singer added that it had been difficult to pour her heart into the album, but that she now felt it was worth it.
“”If I’d have been in a really happy place, then the music would’ve reflected that but I was incredibly depressed and struggling, and that’s what the album sounds like,” she explained. “It was a struggle to get it done. I’m not gonna lie, it was no easy feat, but I’m really happy I’m here!”
Competing with her for the prestigious British and Irish music award – which is awarded by a panel of musicians and industry experts – is the youngest nominee, 21-year-old rising star Jorja Smith.
In an interview with BBC Radio 6 Music Allen revealed that she had been working on her nominated album Lost & Found since she was 16.
“On the outside it looks really quick, because I guess so much has happened, I’ve worked with like Kendrick (Lamar) and Drake and everyone, but I’ve been writing since I was like 16 and working really hard so it doesn’t feel like too much of a rush for me.”
Florence + the Machine, the Arctic Monkeys, and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds are among the other nominees.
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